Dear Julia Gillard: There is nothing wrong with changing your mind.

We need some other people to do the same.

In 2012, when she was PM, Julia Gillard voted against a marriage equality bill.

Last night we found out that if the same vote was held today, she would have voted differently.

The former PM told a Melbourne audience that she had changed her mind. She now thinks that a conscience vote should decide the matter as soon as possible after the next election: “Of course… I would not have a vote in that debate. But if I did, I would vote yes.”

Supporters of gay marriage have been largely unimpressed. And not without reason. When she was PM, Gillard was in a position to make a difference to the lives of so many same-sex attracted Australians. A conversion now seems a bit hollow – and perhaps a case of too little, too late.

If a marriage equality bill is going to pass through the Australian Parliament, we’re going to need a lot of people to change their minds – or, perhaps more importantly, to change their public position.

The Gillard experience tells us a few very important things:

Firstly, for some reason, it is hard to support gay marriage and actually be in a position to do something about it. Gillard joins the ranks of former politicians who have had a post-politics conversion on social justice issues.

Secondly, public opinion is not enough incentive for sitting politicians to change their position. The force of Australian public opinion supports equality. If the Parliament was reflecting the views of the people, this debate would be over.

Thirdly, holding a view privately is not sufficient to get a sitting member to change their position publicly. Does anyone actually believe Julia Gillard wanted to discriminate against hundreds of thousands of Australians? Does anyone believe that of Malcolm Turnbull? Julie Bishop?

If 72% percent of Australians support marriage equality, simply by force of numbers, there are a lot of people in Parliament today who support marriage equality but they feel like they can’t say it publicly.

We know that so many of our politicians are being held back by their party. Or by a fear of a drop in donations. Or by their supporter base.

These people need to hear that it’s ok to shift your position.

They need to know that the public thinks it’s ok to change your mind.

There is a misconception in politics that a “backflip” is a bad thing and that it shows lack of leadership. But it’s actually something we want from our political leaders. We don’t want them to stick to a decision out of fear of being condemned.

When the circumstances change, we need our decisions to change. When the research says we’ll achieve more by taking a different approach, we want our politicians to do that. When the evidence says that public opinion has shifted on this issue and that 72% of Australians now want change, then you’d better have some good reasons to go against that view.

We want to have people in power in this country who can listen to a reasoned argument and say: “Yes, that makes sense. My views have shifted.” It’s the smart thing to do. It’s also a brave thing in this political climate.

If we want to achieve marriage equality, we need to welcome a considered change of opinion. We need to celebrate a thoughtful reversal of position. We need to embrace people who have conceded that they were wrong. In short: We need to praise a backflip.

So today, the most helpful thing to say to Julia Gillard is this: You’re now on the right side of history. We’re so glad you’re here.

What do you think of Julia Gillard’s backflip on marriage equality?

Read more:

Julia Gillard has FINALLY come out in support of marriage equality.

Julia Gillard on gay marriage: “I got on this tram at a different stop.”

JAM: We sure hope Julia Gillard is reading this one.